Kent State University
Florida Atlantic
Golden Flashes Head to FAU Invite to Start 2025 Volleyball Campaign
8/28/2025 3:55:00โฏPM | Women's Volleyball
Kent State opens the 2025 volleyball season this weekend with three matches at the Florida Atlantic Invitational.
All of Florida Atlantic's contests will be streamed on FAUSports.TV and the remaining matches will be on FloVolleyball.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday, August 29
12 p.m.ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Kent State at Florida Atlantic
4:30 p.m.ย ย ย ย ย ย Kent State vs. Western Carolina
Saturday, August 30
11 a.m.ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Kent State vs. Texas Techย ย
PREVIEWING THE FLASHES
Fourth-year head coach Haley Eckerman leads a roster with several familiar faces with five student-athletes who appeared in more than half of last season's sets, while three of the newcomers arrived to campus last semester for spring ball.
Senior Mackenzie McGuire was named to the Preseason All-MAC Team earlier this week and is the lone member of the team who has been part of the program since Eckerman's first season. The outside hitter ranks second among active Mid-American Conference players in career points (1,002) and kills (915) and has led the Golden Flashes in total kills in each of the past three seasons.
Redshirt junior middle blocker Liliana Mechura is another veteran in the front row. Mechura totaled a team-high 70 blocks a year ago and added 103 kills. Senior defensive specialist/libero Greta Bolognini is the top returner in the back row after leading the way with an average of 2.81 digs per set in 2024.
Kent State welcomes a trio of transfers who have previously achieved success at the collegiate level. Setter Christina Vigil was a NJCAA First Team All-American for Enterprise State Community College last season, while outside hitter Mercedez Brown (Kansas City Kansas C.C.) and right side Paige McGee (Southwestern Christian) were the top attackers for their teams.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Florida Atlantic
The Owls were picked fifth in the American Conference preseason poll after going 18-13 last season, including a 12-3 mark in home matches. Second-team all-conference setter Victoria Hensley headlines the returners after ranking 15th in the nation in total assists (1,258) a year ago. Right side Natalie Depaula (2.10 kps) and middle blocker Madison Dyer (1.99 kps) both averaged around two kills per set last season. Libero Isabelle Northam anchored the back row with an average of 2.95 digs per set.
Western Carolina
The Catamounts were picked last in the Southern Conference preseason poll after going just 2-13 in league play last season. Libero Eda Yalçinkaya (3.96 dps) returns in the back row after leading a defense that ranked 10th nationally in digs per set (17.94) in 2024. Middle blocker/right side Janelle Blue was the team leader with 111 blocks and outside hitter Zoe Zudans is the top offensive returner after averaging 1.95 kills per set.
Texas Tech
The Red Raiders went 14-16 in league play last season. Middle blocker Aliyah McDonald totaled a team-high 96 blocks in 2024 and leads a group of only five returners who saw action with 121 kills. A young roster that includes nine freshmen will rely on veteran transfers Peyton Dunn and Sierra Grizzle. Dunn led Auburn in assists last season in a 6-2 system and Grizzle recorded 778 digs over two seasons at Wyoming.
ALL-TIME VS. OPPONENTSย
Kent State is undefeated all-time against this weekend's opponents. The Golden Flashes beat Florida Atlantic, 3-2, in the only previous meeting on Sept. 13, 2008, on a neutral court and posted a 3-0 sweep at Western Carolina on Sept. 15, 2006.
KSU Travel Network
Fans looking to save on travel while supporting the Golden Flashes this year can use the Blue and Gold Travel Network to save on flights and hotels while giving back to Kent State student-athletes by booking at BlueAndGoldTravelNetwork.com.
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